Ford Offers Timely Tips For Prom Season

Prom season is here and while high school students are excited about all of the glam and glitter, many parents look upon the event with mixed feelings. This popular rite of passage is a clear demonstration that our children are almost grown up, but proms cause angst for parents who worry about certain dangers present especially as their children drive to and from the event.

But the reality of teen driving does loom large as the NHTSA notes that in 2008, the latest year statistics are available, nearly 5800 15 to 20-year-olds were involved in fatal crashes. Yes, car crashes are the leading cause of death for people in this age group, novice drivers who tend to live on the edge.

And it isn’t drinking and driving that concerns parents. Texting while driving is a major distraction one that Oprah Winfrey has been addressing on her show. Winfrey cites evidence that texting while driving offers the same level of distraction as does consuming four shots of alcoholic beverages, what is legally known as drunk driving. As a side note, this Friday is “No Phone Zone Day,” an event being coordinated by Oprah.

In a bid to help families prepare for prom season, the Ford Motor Company is offering timely tips for prom season. If you have a Ford product, the automaker reminds drivers of the usefulness of Ford SYNC and MyKey on equipped vehicles. Check your owner’s manual for more information.

For so many teens, prom night isn’t a time to dwell on safety. It means fancy dresses, smart tuxes, and an exciting night out. But parents know that anytime is a good time to offer their young driver guidelines for the road:

· Buckle up! Remind your teenager again and again how important that single little click can be. Statistics show that seat belt usage is lowest among teenagers, even though seat belts continue to be proven as the No. 1 life-saving device in accidents.

· Don’t drink and drive. You may assume your teen knows this, but it’s worth a sit-down talk. Make sure your teen knows the dangers of driving under the influence – or getting into a vehicle with someone who’s been drinking.

· No text zone. Remind your teen driver to avoid distractions such as texting, loud music and any activities that take their eyes away from the road for extended periods of time. Research shows this combination significantly increases the risk of accidents.

· Take a drive. Is your son or daughter taking the car that night? Drive the route with him or her; make sure they know exactly where they’re going and limit the number of passengers who will be in the car at all times.

· Renting a limo? Check the safety record of the limo company. Make sure the company you (or the kids) are renting from has a reputable history.

· Set a check-in time and curfew. Have the couple call you when the dance is over, or when they’re changing venues, so you know where they are at all times. Set a curfew. Make sure your teens know when you expect them home, and make sure they know it’s not debatable.

Of course, if you are a worrying parent you are in good company. Be prepared to intervene as needed including providing alternate transportation home from the event.

For more information about safe driving tips, visit the Ford Driving Skills For Life website.

Mercedes C-Class Special Edition: Wow!

I’m not usually a fan of special edition models for the simple reason is that I don’t usually find that the extra packaging deserves the higher price.  Also, I have seen special edition models which detract from the current trim selection line, incorporating questionable paint schemes or interior badging.

But, the Mercedes C-Class Special Edition is one vehicle I really like, a beautified variation on the compact executive car theme.

Special Edition With A Classical Look

Mercedes distributed pictures of the C-Class SE last week, but I don’t have pricing for the new model. I’m sure that it’ll retail for well above the base $32,900 price found with the standard model as the SE offers a number of features that are only available for this edition.

The first thing I noticed with the special edition is the headlamps. The lamps are darker and are surrounded by a darker frame, giving the SE a distinctly rich look. But, I also noticed the new idium paint scheme, offering several variations on the grey theme. This particular paint scheme appears to be coffee colored.

17" alloy five-spoke wheels are standard, but if you prefer 16" seven-spoke wheels, you can opt for those instead.

Clean swept lines, brushed aluminum and a well designed center stack are hallmarks of every Mercedes passenger vehicle including the C-Class Special Edition model.

Optional leather seating in the form of two-tone variants featuring black/sahara beige or black/cognac brown color combos gives the Special Edition an elegant look. Leather touches on the transmission shifter and steering wheel along with brush aluminum trim and magnified instrument cluster completes the design enhancements found therein.

C-Class Changes Aren’t Just Skin Deep

Among the other features of the Special Edition is an interior illumination package, adaptive headlamps for improved lighting performance, park assist, improved braking and more. So, besides the trim level changes, the C-Class Special Edition offers substantive technological improvements, providing the right blend of interior, exterior and safety enhancements that should appeal to Mercedes fans.

Source: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

See Also — A Fully Integrated iPhone Accessory For Mercedes Models

Chevrolet Awaits While GM Restructures

By far the largest brand owned by General Motors, Chevrolet stands to gain the most as parent GM restructures. At the same time, Chevrolet stands to lose the most if GM cannot pull everything off as planned.

Selling More Chevrolets Than All The Rest

As of June 1st, Chevrolet sells more passenger vehicles in the US than all other GM brands combined, racking up as much as 60% of the sales  in any given month. Chevrolet has a smaller share of company sales in some of the company’s other important markets, but overall the Chevy brand is the most significant make in the GM portfolio.

While GM restructures, Chevrolet will have to wait things out with its current model line set for the coming months. Earlier this year, an all new Traverse crossover was added to the line up and the iconic Camaro made its return. Hybrid versions of its popular Silverado pickup truck are new to the line, but it may not be until late next Spring before a new Chevy model hits.

Production Count Down: Tens Months To Go

Production for the Chevrolet Cruze is set to begin in April 2010 at the company’s Lordstown, Ohio manufacturing plant. Should the company’s bankruptcy restructuring drag out it could have an impact on when the Cruze hits the market.  As of this writing, a late May 2010 release is expected for the 2011 Cruze.

Sharing the same platform as the Cruze will be the Chevy Volt, the long awaited electric model that GM has been promising everyone for the past eighteen months. That car won’t go into production before November 2010, meaning it won’t be in showrooms much before Christmas 2010. Clearly, if there are problems with GM’s restructuring, than both the high volume Cruze and the low volume Volt may not show up on time.

Buick And Cadillac Get New Models

We’ll know more over the coming weeks what GM’s position will be as company and whether they’ll still be able to roll out new products as scheduled. The all new 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be showing up in showrooms later this month while both the Cadillac CTS wagon and next generation SRX crossover will arrive by summer’s end.  Thus, there seems to be some sort of consistency being maintained by GM as it restructures, which is good news for Chevy fans who are awaiting both the Cruze and the Volt.

See Also — Will Tengzhong Build Hummer HX?